Improvement in chimney-cleaners



T. H. DON OHUE,

Chimney Cleaner.

Patented May 5. 1868.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

THOMAS H. DONOHUE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHIMNEY-CLEANERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 77,466, dated May 5, 1868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. DONOHU'E, of Washington city, in the District of Golumbia, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Sweeping or Scraping Chimneys; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings through letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of my apparatus as viewed at one of its angles and in its most distended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the apparatus contracted for the passage of narrower portions of the flue. Fig. 3 is atop or plan view of the same in the position represented in Fig. 1.

The same letters occurring on the several figures indicate like parts.

Flue-sweeping apparatus, as heretofore devised, are not effective in clearing the angles of a square or rectangular flue, as they consist, mainly, of a circular head with radial bristles of whalebone, cane, or other like material, which, if of proper diameter to operate effectively on the sides of the flue, will not reach the angles, and, if of sufficient length to reachtheangles, are so much curved where they come in contact with its sides as to have but little if any effect in removing the soot therefrom.

To remedy these difficulties is the object of my invention; and it consists in the construction of a brush or scraper frame supported on a central shaft, the several parts of which are so hinged or jointed togetherasthat they may be distended or contracted .at pleasure to suit flues of difl'erent dimensions, or to pass readily any contractions or irregularity in the formation of such flues.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation by referring to the drawings, in which A represents the stem or staff of the apparatus, which should be constructed in sections of convenient length to be passed up the flue successively, and connected each with the pre-' ceding one by a bayonet-lock or other suitable coupling. To the upper section of this staff, at a suitable distance from its top,' 'is firmly attached a collar, B, to which are jointed, at its four opposite. sides, in a hingelike manner, the arms at, extending upwardly.

Above this, on the staff, is a sliding collar, 0,-

together midway between the angle-blocks D, I

at which point they are again supported by the braces 01, hinged thereto, and at their opposite ends to another sliding collar, E, on the staff between the fixed and sliding collars B O. The sliding collar 0 carries a spring-borne pawl, e, which locks into apertures or notches ,in the side of the staff, and thus secures it in any desired'position thereon. To the lower end of the pawl e is attached a small cord, f, represented in outline, by which it may be disengaged from the staff when passed to the requisite distance up the chimney or flue. each of the bars 0, forming the rectangular frame, is attached, on its outermost side, a brush or scraper, F or G, whichever it may be desired to operate with.

In using this apparatus, the pawl e is disengagedfrom its hold upon the staff, and the frame contracted into the form represented in Fig. 2, or more closely, if. necessary, and the pawl then allowed to lock with the staif to re- 'tain it in such position. It is then passed up the flue, splicing the staii with as many joints as necessary to reach the desired height, when the cord f may be pulled by the operator to release the pawl. So soon as this is done the frame will expand by its own weight, hanging on the sliding collar 0 until it fits against the sides of the flue, when the pawl e is again released, and engages with one of the notches on the staff to retain the frame in its expanded position. It is then ready to be drawn down the flue, scraping or brushing the soot therefrom as it passes down, and, should there be a contracted passage at any point which the frame, as extended, will not pass, the

pawl may be released or disengaged bypu'lling the cord f, when the pressure of the brushes on such contraction will force up the sliding collar 0 until the pawl looks into the next notch, and after passing such contraction the pawl may be again liberated, when the frame will resume its expanded condition, as in the first instance.

It is obvious that the sections or bars 0 may.

be either curved or straight, or of unequal lengths, so as to adapt the frameto a circular or to an oblong flue, and be equally applicable for cleansing boiler-fines or sewers as for chimney-sweeping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- it 1. The combination of the fixed and sliding 

